The Mask of Ambition

We all have a natural sense of ambition. We strive to excel in our careers, improve in our hobbies, and grow as individuals. In itself, ambition is a good thing—it fuels hard work, perseverance, and progress. But the Devil knows this about us. He knows we have a desire to excel and that we often gauge our success by comparing ourselves to others.

Solomon writes this:

Again, I saw that for all toil and every skillful work, a man is envied by his neighbor. This also is vanity and grasping for the wind. Eccl. 4:4

Other translations of the verse read:

I also saw that a person works hard and accomplishes a lot. But they do it only because they want what another person has. That doesn’t have any meaning either. It’s like chasing the wind. (NIRV)

Then I observed all the work and ambition motivated by envy. What a waste! Smoke. And spitting into the wind. (MSG)

I have also learned why people work so hard to succeed: it is because they envy the things their neighbors have. But it is useless. It is like chasing the wind.

Solomon warns us that if we don’t keep our ambition in check, it can be driven by envy and jealousy. Instead of striving to grow and improve, we begin working tirelessly simply because we want what others have—the bigger house, the higher salary, the fancier car, more clothes, or the dream vacation. Social media has only intensified this temptation, constantly showing us curated glimpses of others’ success and making it even harder to remain content. And ultimately, all that striving and toiling is meaningless because you are always comparing yourself to others. Your ambition is never sated—it always craves more, pushing you to chase the next achievement, the next milestone, the next possession. Without contentment, it becomes an endless pursuit, never truly satisfying the soul.

God tells us how we can manage our ambition:

Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” – Hebrews 13:5

But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. – 1 Tim. 6:6-9

A greedy man stirs up strife, but the one who trusts in the Lord will be enriched. – Proverbs 28:25

Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. – Col. 3:2

Better is the little that the righteous has than the abundance of many wicked. – Psalm 37:16

Two things I ask of you, Lord;
    do not refuse me before I die:
Keep falsehood and lies far from me;
    give me neither poverty nor riches,
    but give me only my daily bread.
Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you
    and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’
Or I may become poor and steal,
    and so dishonor the name of my God. – Pro. 30: 8 -9